REFUGIO – Refugio school district trustees, following a closed meeting, hired Refugio schools’ counselor Melissa Gonzales as the high school’s new principal on Monday evening, April 28.

Todd Deaver, current high school principal, said he accepted a principal position at the Poth school district junior high school.

Deaver said he was born in Kingsville, but all his family had moved up around San Antonio and Houston, and he said the move means he and his immediate family will be closer to all of the family.

Deaver added that he likes Thai food, and that fare is readily available in restaurants nearby.

Gonzales will take the duties of principal as of July 1.

Also after the closed meeting, trustees voted to appoint Christie Mascorro to take the school board single member district 4 position that Gary Wright vacated. Wright moved out of the voting district and had to resign his position.

Mascorro will complete Wright’s unexpired term, to the May 2015 election.

In open session, trustees voted to elect Andy Rocha as the board’s vice president. Wright also had been the board vice president.

Trustees also heard an overview of the districts lawsuit against three companies that installed the elementary school’s foundation.

Superintendant Jack Gaskins said he was giving a deposition on the case in Austin on Tuesday, April 29.

Gaskins said the district has four experts who confirm that the wrong dirt was used to lay the foundation.

He said one of the experts, Rimkus engineering consultants, suggested that the solution would be to take the slab out and construct a suspended slab on piers.

Trustees also approved the purchase of food service software called “NutriKids.”

The total package for the software, which totally will manage the district’s food service, was $17,572. The money will come out of cafeteria money.

The software will help adjust lunch prices, including reduced priced lunches, make available online applications and help in overall management of the service.

Also to remain in compliance with USDA and TDA, meal prices were set for the 2014-15 year.

Elementary (K-5) prices increased from $1.35 to $1.50 for breakfast and $2.50 to $2.60 for lunches.

For grades six through 12, breakfast increased from $1.35 to $1.50. Lunch increased from $2.60 to $2.75.

Adults and staff breakfast increased from $1.75 to $2.25 for breakfast and $3.30 to $3.40 for lunch.

Trustees also recognized students during its “spotlight on excellence” portion of the meeting.